Inmate convicted, sentenced for assaulting law enforcement officer

Photo: John Riles (DeSoto County Jail photo)

March 4, 2025- John Riles, a DeSoto County inmate, has been convicted and sentenced to five years in prison for simple assault on a law enforcement officer, the maximum sentence for this charge.

Riles, who was in custody for violating probation related to uttering forgery, assaulted a jailer on Nov. 14, 2024, by tasing him, causing minor injuries. Riles was initially facing a 90-day sentence for the probation violation but will now serve five years due to the assault charge.

“Let this sentence serve as a warning to those who assault our officers: we will not go soft on you,” said District Attorney Matthew Barton. “We will always have the back of those who serve and protect our community, and any violence against them will not be tolerated.”

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael Steele.